When dangerous chemicals spill or hazardous materials are released, most focus on the immediate threat, as they should in the first phase of such a disaster. But here’s what some people don’t realize: there’s a real danger that comes after the crisis seems to be under control.
After Hazardous Material Exposure: The Problem Few Talk About
Think about it: what happens to the people who are exposed to hazardous materials? The firefighters and paramedics rushing in? The civilians who were simply in the wrong place?
They all need one important step that can mean the difference between staying safe or making things even worse: proper decontamination.
Without it, those same people can unknowingly spread contamination to:
- Emergency vehicles
- Hospitals and clinics
- The healthcare workers trying to help
- Other patients
- Their own families and communities
It only takes one contaminated person walking into an unprepared hospital to set off a chain reaction that puts many other people at risk.
Even people caught in flooding may have to wade through a witch’s brew of bacteria, viruses, and chemicals to reach first responders and risks of illness and infection can be mitigated with a decontamination shower.
Not too long ago, decontamination meant little more than hosing someone down and hoping for the best. Thankfully, that’s changed. Today’s emergency teams have advanced equipment that’s built for these precise situations.
What Makes Modern Decontamination Systems Different
Today, decontamination systems are fast and simple:
- Lightweight, inflatable frames that deploy in minutes
- No special tools needed
- Can be run by a small team under pressure
- Can be set up in a three-lane configuration, allowing simultaneous decontamination
They are built with safety in mind, featuring inflatable floors that create a sealed environment, partition walls that ensure privacy and improve flow, pumps that collect and isolate runoff, and containment systems designed to prevent dirty water from spreading further.
These aren’t just nice-to-have features. They’re what prevent toxic water from seeping into the ground, storm drains, or even local drinking supplies.
And because lives are on the line, decontamination systems must meet strict safety standards. Agencies like OSHA and FEMA set best practices and procedures for safely managing contamination risks for personnel, equipment, and vehicles, but also waste disposal and special cases such as bloodborne pathogens, toxic metals and particulates or biological agents.
Following these standards is about guaranteeing that equipment is not only safe and reliable in the face of chemical or biological threats, but also capable of creating a secure, contained environment for the decontamination process.
In today’s world, chemical accidents, industrial mishaps, flooding, and even deliberate attacks are real risks. Having proper decontamination equipment is like having insurance: you hope you’ll never need it, but if you do, nothing else will work.
By choosing a system that is safe, emergency services can close the gap between containment and recovery. Because in the end, the “unseen threat” of secondary contamination doesn’t have to be a threat at all, not when we’re properly prepared to face it.
Contributing Author: Daemon Hobbs
Daemon Hobbs is a full-time sales representative at LANCO North America Corp., where he builds relationships with customers using his deep knowledge of rapid deployment shelters and emergency operations. Beyond his sales expertise, Daemon is a pilot with Civil Air Patrol and has extensive experience as a leader in the U.S. Air Force and the South Carolina Department of Health.
LANCO North America Corp., headquartered in Charlotte NC, is a manufacturer of rapid deployment shelters, collective protection systems and decontamination solutions. With over 70 years of expertise in the field, LANCO is renowned for its expertise in producing high-quality shelters and a wide range of emergency response equipment.